Geary named ECAC East Player of the Week, Altidor earns NE-10's top rookie nod

Jan 28, 2013

COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey senior Josh Geary (Wellesley, Mass./Phillips Andover Academy) was named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East Player of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, Jan. 27, while first-year Kevin Altidor (Montreal, Quebec/Millbrook School) was named Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week for the third time this winter.

Altidor was also recognized with a selection to the ECAC East Weekly Honor Roll, while Geary and three teammates landed on the NE-10 Weekly Honor Roll. Geary joined senior Mike Dizgun (Montreal, Quebec/OCN Blizzard) and sophomores Mark Higgins (Plainville, Mass./Bridgewater Bandits) and AJ Pieprzak (Barrie, Ontario/Ridley College).

Geary had three goals and two assists in two wins over the weekend, assisting both game-winning tallies. In a 5-4 victory at the University Southern Maine on Friday, he assisted the winner with 0.09 seconds remaining on a power play before potting three goals and assisting another in a 5-1 win at the University of New England on Saturday. In that contest, he gave the Purple Knights the lead for good with a short-handed marker 4:44 into the second period, assisted another short-hander 20 seconds later, and scored again at 6:30 and on a power play at 18:41.

Altidor had three points over the weekend, netting a game-winning goal and assisting a tying marker. At Southern Maine, he assisted a first-period tally that came 1:01 after the Huskies had taken the lead, and he had two points on short-handed goals 20 seconds apart in the second period at the University of New England, including netting the winner at 5:04.

Geary, who entered his second year as a captain with 20 career goals, has netted a career-high 12 markers to go along with 18 points, with both figures leading the Purple Knights. He is tied for third in the ECAC East in goals, tied for fifth in short-handed points (2), and tied for 10th in power-play tallies (3). Among NE-10 players, Geary is tied for third in goals and tied for seventh in points.

Altidor's eight goals are second on the squad, and he is tied for third in points (13). He is tied for fifth in the ECAC East in short-handed points (2), tied for seventh in game-winning tallies (2), and tied for 10th in power-play markers (3). Among all first-years, Altidor is tied for second in goals and stands alone in sixth in points. Altidor leads all NE-10 first-years in goals and is fourth in points while tying for sixth in goals among all NE-10 players.

Dizgun made 16 saves and yielded only a power-play goal during the team's 5-1 win at the University of New England on Saturday. During the 57:59 that the teams played even strength, Dizgun kept the Nor'easters off the scoreboard. The University of New England did not score until 4:23 remained in the game. He has three wins and a 3.57 goals-against average this winter.

A defenseman, Higgins netted a game-winning goal while anchoring a defense that allowed 2.5 goals per game on 19.5 shots on goal. At Southern Maine, he assisted the tying power-play goal with 6:17 remaining before netting the power-play winner with 0.09 seconds left. The Purple Knights blanked the Huskies for the final 29:43, a shutout streak Higgins helped stretch to 85:19 against the University of New England. Thanks to his eight assists, which are good for second on the team, he is third among NE-10 blue liners with 10 points and is tied for sixth in power-play points (7).

Pieprzak picked up five points last weekend. At Southern Maine, Pieprzak had a point on each of his team's last four goals to help the Purple Knights erase a 4-1 deficit. After scoring twice 8:17 apart to make it 4-3, he assisted the tying power-play marker with 6:17 left in the game and assisted the winner on another power play with 0.09 seconds left. On Saturday, he assisted another power-play tally. Pieprzak has seven goals and six assists, tying for ninth in the NE-10 in goals.

At 6-12 overall, 3-9 in the ECAC East and 2-2 in the NE-10, the Purple Knights host four of their next five games, beginning by taking on Saint Anselm College on Friday at 7 p.m.